I am writing this article the week before Christmas, a time when children are pondering their letters to Santa and are anticipating a mound of gifts under the tree. Here at the Department of Libraries, we are looking ahead to the next year with the same kind of anticipation and excitement. Our partnership on two federal broadband stimulus grants will continue in 2011, bringing much needed computer equipment to the libraries in the 24 e-Vermont communities (http://vtrural.org/programs/e-vermont) and the start of the fiber Vermont FiberConnect network build (http://www.telecomvt.org/press/BTOP-Award-7.2.10.pdf).But I have my own list for Santa Claus and I am happy to share it with you:

The Department of Libraries (DOL) sends out a heartfelt thank you to all the public librarians who completed their Standards Applications and Annual Public Library Reports.167 Libraries have completed the survey; a few more have received extensions for submitting their data. DOL's first task is to review all of the State Standards Applications. Each year, more libraries come into compliance and meet the requirements outlined in the Minimal Standards for Public Libraries.DOL library consultants work with library directors and library trustees to improve services so that they can meet standards. Last year three libraries met standards for the first time and we hope this trend will continue. Read more.

Project Librarian for Digital Newspaper

Tom McMurdo has accepted the position of Project Librarian for the Vermont Digital Newspaper Project. This project, under the leadership of the UVM Bailey Howe Library, and in partnership with the Department of Libraries and other groups, is funded with a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. McMurdo comes to the project with eight years of experience at the University of California's Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research, where he worked on the California Newspaper Project's cataloging and microfilming phase of the United States Newspaper Program. More recently he worked on the California Digital Newspaper Program that is part of the National Digital Newspaper Program. McMurdo has an MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With his expertise and experience working on newspaper projects, the Vermont program will be in good hands. McMurdo will start on January 18, 2011.

Turning the Page: Building Your Library Community

Attention public library directors and trustees!The Public Library Association's acclaimed "Turning the Page" series of courses on creating library advocacy programs is now available online. Designed to help public libraries obtain local funding to maintain and upgrade computers and technology services, this series of classes prepares librarians to build strong community support through the creation of a work plan, the choice of a good advocacy team and training on effective public speaking --from creating a good "library story" to preparing for a budget presentation.

Some Vermont librarians and trustees have already experienced the power of this advocacy training program. As part of their participation in the last round of the Opportunity Online hardware grant program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, librarians and trustees from more than 20 Vermont libraries attended this same training in 2009 when it was presented "live" in St. Louis. "Turning the Page" was created by the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association and is now available online and is free of charge to all American Library Association (ALA) members. To find out more: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaadvocacy/turningthepage/index.cfm

Opportunity Online Summit Launches FiberConnect Project in Libraries

The Department of Libraries (DOL) hosted a very successful two-day Summit on December 1-2 at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa to launch the part of the Vermont FiberConnect project that will reach some 50 Vermont public libraries. Vermont FiberConnect is a public-private project funded by a $33.4 million federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The project is led by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) in partnership with Sovernet Communications. The Department of Libraries is a project partner and is also the recipient of an Opportunity Online Broadband Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that provided matching funds to bring fiber to project libraries.It was this latter grant that provided funding for the Summit.Read more.

Movie License USA Offers Program Ideas for Schools and Libraries

Public and K-12 school libraries that have public performance rights to show motion pictures licensed by Movie License USA through the program offered by the Department of Libraries can find ideas for programming - and much more -- on the vendor's website.

Public libraries can find programming suggestions, including ideas to use for the 2011 "One World, Many Stories" summer reading program for children. The winter issue of the "Check it Out" newsletter is now available at: http://www.movlic.com/library/checkItOut.html

Many churches and religious groups are involved in work with the elderly and disabled, including tjhose with visual and physical handicaps.. The National Library Service (NLS), which provides "talking books" for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, includes books on religion in its collection. Therefore, it made good sense for Teresa Faust, Librarian in DOL's Special Services Unit (SSU), to contact churches to help get the word out about SSU services. Read more.

Burlington Blind Book Club

A group of patrons of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) who live in the Burlington area have started a book club which will meet monthly at the Vermont Council of the Blind in South Burlington. The group's founder contacted our Special Services Unit (SSU) to arrange for multiple copies of the audio books they planned to read. Upon request, SSU staff was able to make copies of National Library Service talking books available in sufficient quantities so that group members could all read the selected books in advance.SSU Librarian Teresa Faust attended the inaugural meeting of the club to answer any questions they had. Members of the club will take turns selecting books to read and discuss, with the only rule being that the book must be available from SSU.

Vermont Librarian Achieves Certification

Congratulations to Nancy Daigle, Librarian at the Thatcher Brook Primary School in Waterbury, for earning National Board Certification! Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers and school librarians who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. Daigle joins two other Vermont Librarians who have National Board Certification: Holly Kruse, Cabot School and Daniel Greene, U-32 High School. And, though she has taught overseas now for many years, Rebecca Brown of Peoples Academy was the first National Board School Librarian in our state.

Multnomah County Libraries Celebrate "Cardholder Pride"

Here is a great marketing idea that Vermont libraries may want to adopt. Since August, The Library Foundation, a non-profit group that supports the work of the Multnomah County Library in Portland Oregon, has promoted "cardholder pride" by inviting library patrons to have their photograph taken with their library card. The resulting website is powerful and moving. Check it out: http://cardholderpride.smugmug.com/

The project is going to continue into 2011 with more library branches participating. For more information about The Library Foundation, see: http://www.libraryfoundation.org/

Teen Tech Week, March 6-12, 2011

Teen Tech Week, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, is an opportunity for libraries to promote their technology to teens, and to educate teens in safe, ethical practices in the use of electronic and online resources. This year's theme, "Mix and Mash," according to ALA, "focuses on encouraging teens to use library resources to express their creativity by developing their own unique online content and safely sharing it by using online collaborative tools." For more information, including programming suggestions, professional resources and links to promotional materials see: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw11/home11.cfm

New Journal on Teens and Libraries

Interested in articles on teens and libraries? Want something more thoughtful and in-depth than the articles you have been reading? Then, check out the new scholarly online peer-reviewed journal from the Young Adult Library Services Association: The Journal of Research onLibraries and Young Adults. The first issue features papers that were accepted for the peer reviewed paper session at the November Young Adult Literature symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Find it here: http://yalsa.ala.org/jrlya. The journal will be published quarterly in November, February, May and August.

Teen Video Challenge 2011

The Vermont Department of Libraries and the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) are co-sponsoring a video contest to teenagers. Teens, 13-18, individually or in teams, are invited to create a short Public Service Announcement (PSA) promoting the 2011 summer reading program theme, "You Are Here," and promoting reading and libraries. The slogan "You Are Here" was chosen to convey the idea of teens as part of a diverse country and world. The winner of the Vermont challenge, when approved by CSLP, will receive $250 and his/her sponsoring public library will be awarded $100. All entries will also be posted on YouTube. Deadline is March 4, 2011. For more information, and an entry form, see: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/srp/childrenteen/teenvideocontest

This is a great way for libraries to get teens involved, and for the teens to showcase their talents.

Vermont Bibliography of Books for Children and Teens Updated

"The Green Mountain Sampler," a bibliography for young people of books about Vermont, set in Vermont or about Vermonters has just been expanded and updated in a 7th edition. As in all previous editions, this fifty-page annotated list is not selective, but rather lists all of the books that the Department of Libraries owns on these topics. The bibliography is here: http://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/cbec/GreenMtnSampler2010.pdf

Getting Rid of Old Catalog Cards?

Peacham Library recently completed the move from the card catalog to a new automated library system. With this transition came the need to dispose of thousands of those 3 x 5 catalog cards. Rather than just throw them out, library Director Becky Jensen decided to offer a contest. The "Celebrate Automation with a Creation" program allowed library patrons to take as many catalog cards as they wanted in order to create a project. Projects could be artistic, literary, funky or just plain fun! Read more.

Vermont librarians are looking at book lists from a variety of sources so that they can give holiday gift advice. Here are some that we came across.

Margaret Woodruff's favorite book for all ages is All the Worldby Liz Garton Scanlon.This is a story about one day at the beach interwoven through different families and generations.Coupled with detailed and heartwarming illustrations by Marla Frazee, the story shines with inspiration and hope for all the world.

From the Vermont State LibrarianI am writing this article the week before Christmas, a time when children are pondering their letters to Santa and are anticipating a mound of gifts under the tree. Here at the Department of Libraries, we are looking ahead to the next year with the same kind of anticipation and excitement. Our partnership on two federal broadband stimulus grants will continue in 2011, bringing much needed computer equipment to the libraries in the 24 e-Vermont communities (http://vtrural.org/programs/e-vermont) and the start of the fiber Vermont FiberConnect network build (http://www.telecomvt.org/press/BTOP-Award-7.2.10.pdf).

But I have my own list for Santa Claus and I am happy to share it with you:

High quality free public library service available to every citizen no matter where they live in Vermont;

A qualified and trained school librarian in every Vermont school;

The promise of adequate and sustained funding that will allow all of our libraries to deliver 21st century library services to citizens;

Every public library with an automated integrated library system and website;

Vermonters of all ages, with library cards in hand, participating in lifelong learning by visiting their school, college, and public libraries;

Librarians, authors, government officials, teachers, poets and citizens celebrating the written word and the power of reading;

Parents who read daily to their children and take their pre-school children to the local library for storytime programs;

The Department of Libraries (DOL) sends out a heartfelt thank you to all the public librarians who completed their Standards Applications and Annual Public Library Reports.167 Libraries have completed the survey; a few more have received extensions for submitting their data. DOL's first task is to review all of the State Standards Applications. Each year, more libraries come into compliance and meet the requirements outlined in the Minimal Standards for Public Libraries.DOL library consultants work with library directors and library trustees to improve services so that they can meet standards. Last year three libraries met standards for the first time and we hope this trend will continue.

According to Rob Geiszler, DOL's Data Coordinator, an old "saw" preached by data coordinators is, "If we don't count it, it doesn't count." In hard economic times, this takes on even greater importance. Libraries need to be able to substantiate the services they offer to their communities and Selectboards, legislators, voters, and the public at large need to understand just how valuable their public libraries are.The statistics we gather and publish help Vermont libraries to provide that convincing information.

Here are a few preliminary statistics from this year's report that you may find interesting:

Statewide, public libraries:

were open 253,986 hours during the year - that's an increase from last year

housed more than 3,214,926 audios, books, serials, videos and other materials;

were visited 3,746,340 times;

circulated 4,636,526 items; and

hosted 22,141 programs that were attended by 347,613 people.

This is a picture of vibrant, active, important public institutions providing excellent, valuable service in their communities -- and we have the numbers to back up that claim!

The Department of Libraries (DOL) hosted a very successful two-day Summit on December 1-2 at Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa to launch the part of the Vermont FiberConnect project that will reach some 50 Vermont public libraries. Vermont FiberConnect is a public-private project funded by a $33.4 million federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The project is led by the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) in partnership with Sovernet Communications. The Department of Libraries is a project partner and is also the recipient of an Opportunity Online Broadband Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that provided matching funds to bring fiber to project libraries.It was this latter grant that provided funding for the Summit.Approximately 100 people attended the event, including librarians, trustees, policy-makers, legislators, local government officials, and representatives from the business and non-profit communities.In her remarks to the attendees, State Librarian Martha Reid stated, "We are here today because we believe in the power of public libraries to change lives and build strong communities.... It is my hope that you will leave this Summit with a greater appreciation of fiber technology and the potential that broadband brings for citizens who use library services."

The Summit featured Keynote Speaker R. David Lankes, Director of the Information Institute of Syracuse (NY), and Professor at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies, who spoke on "Libraries and Broadband: Becoming Radical Change Agents in Our Communities."Other speakers included Chris Campbell, Executive Director of the VTA, Karen Archer Perry, Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and a panel presentation on "Fiber to Vermont Libraries: Building 21st Century Communities" moderated by Lauren-Glenn Davitian, Executive Director of CCTV and the Center for Media & Democracy (Burlington) with panelists Jerry Carbone, Director, Brooks Memorial Library (Brattleboro); Paul Costello, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development; Beth Kuhn, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor; Deborah Shannon, Director of Broadband Outreach and Coordination at VTA; Barbara Sondag, Town Manager, Brattleboro; and State Librarian Martha Reid.Representatives from Sovernet provided details about the "nuts and bolts" of the project that will reach over 300 "community anchor institutions"in an area that reaches from Rutland to Brattleboro and extends up through Barre and Montpelier to a few communities in northeastern Vermont.

DOL employees Michael Roche, Regional Library Consultant, and Sheila Kearns, Information Technology Librarian, spoke about sustaining broadband service in libraries through participation in the federal E-Rate discount program. The Summit also included table-top discussions - and plenty of time for attendees to network. The Sovernet fiber build is expected to begin in spring 2011 and will be completed in 2013. For more information about this project, contact Martha Reid at: martha.reid@state.vt.us

Many churches and religious groups are involved in work with the elderly and disabled, including those with visual and physical handicaps. The National Library Service (NLS), which provides "talking books" for the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, includes books on religion in its collection. Therefore, it made good sense for Teresa Faust, Librarian in DOL's Special Services Unit (SSU), to contact churches to help get the word out about SSU services. Using information from www.city-data.com Faust determined the largest denominations in Vermont and contacted the state headquarters of each denomination and sent out flyers that could be printed and inserted into church bulletins. She also let them know that she is available to write an article for local church newsletters or to speak to church groups. Denominations contacted thus far include: Catholic, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Episcopalian, Unitarian Universalist, and American Baptist. She is currently gathering information on Jewish congregations throughout the state.JBI International (formerly Jewish Braille Institute) partners with NLS and supplies materials of Jewish interest.

Folks that are interested in learning more, or who want to invite Teresa to a church group meeting, can contact her at: 828-3273 / teresa.faust@state.vt.us

Julia Fickes stands next to her Empire style dress created using catalog cards and Jane Austin check-out cards for the bodice

Peacham Library recently completed the move from the card catalog to a new automated library system. With this transition came the need to dispose of thousands of 3 x 5 catalog cards. Rather than just throw them out, library Director Becky Jensen decided to offer a contest. The "Celebrate Automation with a Creation" program allowed library patrons to take as many catalog cards as they wanted in order to create a project.Projects could be artistic, literary, funky orjust plain fun!Patrons took on the challenge and created jewelry, a poem, clothing, a bulletin board, masks, a game, 3D scenes, a fishing pole, and a cat puppet.

Sixteen entries were received from patrons ranging in age from 4 to 93.Awards were given for all entries, including: "Best Miniature Work" for an origami crane on a ring; "Best Use of Title Cards" for a cat that was created using cards with such titles as The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (the tail) and the Cat in the Hat (leg);and "Best Literary Piece" for an Ogden Nash-inspired poem.What won "Best in Show"? Library patrons selected a dress made with catalog cards by thirteen-year-old Julia Fickes. The dress was designed in a style popular in Jane Austin books, with Jane Austin check-out cards used for the bodice.All entries were on display at Peacham Library in November.

Margaret Woodruff's favorite book for all ages is All the Worldby Liz Garton Scanlon.This is a story about one day at the beach interwoven through different families and generations.Coupled with detailed and heartwarming illustrations by Marla Frazee, the story shines with inspiration and hope for all the world.

For ages 9 and up, Margaret recommends COSMIC by Frank Cottrell Boyce.Liam is a normal boy who is easily mistaken for an adult. That's the ticket to his trip in outer space when he and his best friend win a chance to board a Chinese rocket.

Amy Howlett suggests a series that will grab young readers written by Suzanne Collins. Her wonderful dystopia begins with The Hunger Games. Only one teenager of the 24 contestants will survive the Games, a televised spectacle that keeps the impoverished country enthralled. Savvy young adults will catch the references to reality TV while empathizing with the young players struggling against their opponents and the cockeyed world in which they live.

Gardeners and gourmets will enjoy The Town That Food Saved by Ben Hewitt.Hardwick, Vermont, has created a new layer of local industry with organic farming and excellent food products at its core. Vermonters are exploring what questions to ask in this time of high unemployment when there is also high interest in local, organic food. Hewitt takes some important first steps.

And check out these titles, the first two for adults followed by two for children:

The Vermont Public Library Foundation has purchased a Flip Video Ultra camcorder that is available for Vermont public libraries to borrow. The Department of Libraries will handle the loan of this equipment and we encourage public libraries to borrow this equipment to practice using Flip video technology, for staff development activities, training, marketing and PR, programming, etc. DOL has posted a loan policy on the DOL website: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/cbec/flipcameraloan.